Peroxide

FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT PEROXIDE - PAGE 2

BLAME CANADA: Many people experience migraines associated with changes in the weather, but there has been little evidence to back it up. However, the Journal of the American Academy of Neurology reports that the warm, strong winds that blow down from Canada were shown to cause migraines in nearly half of those studied. MOUTH MATTERS: A rinse to relieve mouth sores that are not related to any specific disease uses water and hydrogen peroxide. It is recommended to frequently rinse with a half-and-half solution of water and the peroxide.

Deerfield-based Baxter International Inc. has received a warning letter from the federal government about manufacturing practices at its Round Lake, Ill., facility. The letter, dated Aug. 11 and released to the public Tuesday, followed a Food and Drug Administration inspection last fall. The FDA said the company's quality control unit failed to properly investigate and control residues found in a peroxide bath.

Q. I have a fainting couch with a large urine stain that's about 3 years old. How can I remove it? --Ora Baines A. Martin King, technical adviser to the Association of Specialists in Cleaning & Restoration, cautions that a urine stain that old probably can't be removed without some evidence remaining. If the piece is particularly valuable and the fabric is in good condition, King recommends having an upholsterer remove the stained piece of fabric and taking it to a dry cleaner.

They're out there. They're working in the next cubicle, attending classes with you, shopping at your supermarket, working out at your gym. You've always been a tad suspicious of them. They're a little too eager, a tad too chipper. But mostly it's that strange glow coming from their heads. They're your neighbors, friends and family members with impossibly white smiles courtesy of bleaching kits and trips to Dr. Brite Smile. Still, you've got to admit, those teeth are pretty darn nice.

Now that the first frost has sent us scurrying to the closet for warmer clothes, it's time to store the summer clothing. Here are two timely tips from "Queen of Clean" author Linda Cobb: 'Try to avoid using fabric softener on clothes you're about to store. Fabric softener can leave grease spots, which can attract undesirables and weaken fibers. Best to forego the softener, or use a vinegar rinse. 'For surprise spots on washable clothes, try using 1/2 cup of hydrogen peroxide and 1 teaspoon of ammonia.

Bargain with docs If it seems you're paying more and more for medical care, you're right. From 2000 to 2005, average out-of-pocket medical costs for employees more than doubled, though wages rose just 18 percent during the same time, according to a report in Money magazine. In its November issue, the magazine offers 50 savvy ways to cut your medical bills by thousands of dollars. For example: - When seeking medical care, ask your doctor for a deal. As many as two-thirds of patients who negotiated for lower prices with a hospital or dentist got them, according to a 2005 Harris poll.

I have a marbletop table with a beautiful ornate wood base from my grandparents' home. The marble has one small stain and several others that look like watermarks. How should I clean the surface and bring the luster back to the marble? -- J. Warren, St. Joseph, Mich. There is a way to remove the stain and restore the table with its crowning beauty. This sounds like an old stain, and you might need to get a professional marble-cleaning company to do the job. Because marble is a porous stone, stains should be treated at once.

Q-I have an 11-year-old child with a hearing impairment. He also has a problem with frequent buildup of earwax. His ear specialist recommends we use hydrogen peroxide, slightly diluted, to clean his ears about once a month. His pediatrician says peroxide frequently can cause its own problems and to use Debrox as needed. Do you have an opinion? A-I always have a point of view, which translates into an opinion. It's pretty hard to choose between the advice of two physicians, both of whom you trust.